Limits and Beyond: 50 years on from The Limits to Growth, what did we learn and what’s next? by Bardi Ugo

Author:Bardi, Ugo [Bardi, Ugo]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw
ISBN: 9781914549045
Publisher: Exapt Press
Published: 2022-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

Measuring what matters: Moving from vision to action

Gross National Happiness aims to measure national progress in a more holistic way – as the sum total not only of economic output, but also of environmental impacts, the spiritual and cultural growth of citizens, their mental and physical health, and the strength of corporate and political systems. The GNH survey tool collects national data across nine GNH “domains” that collectively create the enabling conditions for happiness and wellbeing. 8 While many national surveys also routinely collect data on health, living standards, education, and the environment, Bhutan’s survey goes further to include more intangible, but no less important domains, including time use, psychological wellbeing, community vitality, good governance, and cultural diversity and resilience. To align government decision-making with these priorities, the GNH Commission applies a GNH policy-screening tool to assess the impacts of proposed projects and policies on wellbeing. The Commission also applies the nine domains to guide resource allocation and to set targets in the country’s Five-Year Plans. 13

To date, Bhutan has conducted three rounds of GNH surveys, and introduced a range of policies to promote sustainable and equitable development, while preserving its unique cultural heritage. The country has seen impressive gains in key social indicators, including a reduction in poverty and infant mortality rates, rising life expectancy, and substantial increases in primary school enrolment. 14 Between 2005 and 2018, Bhutan’s Human Development Index increased by 20.5%, positioning the country in the Middle Human Development Category. 15 All of this has been accomplished while making a peaceful transition to a democratic constitutional monarchy, and earning the distinction of becoming the world’s first carbon negative country. 16 In many ways, GNH is a bold and vitally important work-in-progress, and its leaders remain aware of both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. 17 In the words of former Prime Minister Thinley: “Bhutan is not a country that has attained GNH… Like most developing nations, we are struggling with the challenge of fulfilling the basic needs of our people. What separates us, however, from most others is that we have made happiness, the most fundamental of human needs, as the goal of societal change.” 18 Moreover, given the interdependence between Bhutan and the global community, it is clear that a movement towards Wellbeing Economies cannot be pursued in isolation. As one Bhutanese minister succinctly put it: “we cannot be a GNH bubble in a GDP world”. 19

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